Automobile lock



B. LIEBOWITZ AND J. BALSAM.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. x2. 1921.

1,429,599. Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

IVN V EN TORS.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept, 19,

BENJAMIN LIEBOITZ, OF NEW ROSHELLE, AND JAMES BALSAM, OF .NEW YORK, N.Y.;

SAID LIEBVTETZ SSFS-NUR TO SAID BALSAM.

.AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

Application led November 12, 1921.

T 0 all w/iom t mc/,y concern.'

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN Lineo- .wirz and JAMns Bremsen, citizensof the United States, respectively residing in the city of New Rochelle,county of Vestchester, State of New York,l and in the city of N ew York,countyrof New York, State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful lmprovements infiutomobileLocks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to locks for automobiles and particularly to alocking device for the steering wheel. The objects of the invention areto produce a simple, effective and inexpensive device of this character,which can be readily attached to an automobile, which will have theattaching means covered when the device is in the locked position so asto prevent tampering with same, which will have said attaching meansuncovered when the device is in the unlocked positionso as to permitremoval if desired, and to achieve other objects not specificallymentioned.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanyingdrawings in which: i

F ig. 1 is a side elevation showing the device in lockedv position withthe attaching means covered, i

, Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 8 is a section on line III- IH of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing device in unlocked position, with theattaching means uncovered, and,

Fig. 5 is a section on line V-V of F 4.

Referring' to the drawings, 1 is the steering column of an automobile, 2is the hub of the steeringwheel, and 3 indicates the spokes thereof. ,4`and 5 arethe two parts of a split clamp, which comprise the stationarymember and which are fastened together by the bolts 6, thereby tightlyclamping 4-5 to the steering post 1. In addition, the set-screw 7 isprovided, to prevent shifting of the stationary member 4 5 on thesteering-post 1.

The part 5 of the stationary member is provided with a lug 8, on whichthe fork 9 is hinged by means of the pivot pin 10, the fork 9 beingprovided for this purpose with hubs 9a and 9b, which, together with 9,constitute the movable member. The lug 8 and hubs 9a and 9b are drilledto receive the shown in Figs.

vsure on the fork 9 pivot pin 10as shown. These parts are also drilledto receive the bolt, which is split up into the threeparts, 11, 12, 13,and backed by the spring 14. y

The hub 9'Ll is bored to receive the cylinder lock, which may be ofconventional or, approved construction. shaft of the cylinder isprovided witha face cam 16 which is adapted to move the boltmembersendwise. j

When the device is'in the locked position 1 2, and 3, the holes in and9b which receive the boltmeinbers 11 and 13 line up with the hole in lug8 which receives bolt men'iber 12. The spring 14 therefore pushes outthe bolts until bolt-member 11 is stopped by cam 1G. Their planes ofseparation therefore no longer correspond to the planes of separation oflug`8 and hubs 9a and 9b,

the hubs 91L The fork 9 cannot therefore be removed from its positionserial nutrita?. i J

The tumbler-barrel l so that rotation of fork. 9 on its pivot-pin 10 iseffectively prevented,

embracing the spoke 3 of thesteering wheel, lwhich is-thereby ren-ldered inoperative.

Upon insertion of the proper key 17 into the tumblcr-barrel'of thecylinder 15, said tumbler can be rotated, thereby rotating' the cam 16with it. bers 1.1-12-13 endwise until their planes of separationsubstantially. coincide with the planes ofseparation of the lug 8 andthe hubs 9a and 9b. This permits-the fork 9.5 to be rotated about itspivot-pin 10 into the unlocked position shown in Fig. 4, releasing thespoke of the steering-wheel and permittingl it freedom of operation.When the fork is thusrotated,

ber 12 remains stationary in the lug 8. This is clearly shown in 5,where it is also shown that the bolt-member 13, in this position, ispushed by the spring into a notch 18 in lug 8, so as to prevent the fork9 from swinging or rattling. This notch is so shaped, however, that amoderate preswill release the boltmember 13.

Tt will be observed that when the fork is in the unlocked position ofFig. 4, the heads of the bolts 6 and set-screw 7 are exposed. Thispermits simple attaching of the device to the steering post, and alsoits removal, if desired. When, however, the fork is in the lockedposition shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, these This shifts the bolt-niem-y itcarries with it the bolt-members 11 and 13, while the bolt-mcm- 'in saidposition,

bolts are covered by bosses 19-20 on the fork 9, as shown, thuseitectively preventing tampering. The covering means may be formed in avariety of ways. le prefer to have the heads ot the bolts (i projectsomewhat, and to provide recesses in the bosses 19 to receive theseheads, the object being to prevent forcing of the lock by insertion of achisel in the narrow space between boss 19 and the boss 2l onclamp-member 5.

lt will be understood that the cylinder is pinned in the hub in anyconvenient effective manner. rlChe pivot pin lOmay also be pinned, butin our construction, this is not necessary.

Our invention is not to be construed as limited to the specificembodiment shown.

l/Ve claim:

l. In a locking device.` for an automobile steering wheel, a splitcollar adapted to` surround the steering column adjacent the steeringwheel, clamping means for the collar accessible 'from one side thereof,a spoke-engaging member pivot-ally attached to the collar and adaptedwhen swung into upright position both to engage a spoke of the steeringwheel and to cover the clamping eans, the joint between the collar andthe spoke-engaging member having longitudinal openings that aline whenthe latter is in upright position, a spring pressed split bolt mountedfor endwise movement in said openings and automatically operative tolock the parts when the spoke-engaging member is swung into its uprightposition, and heycontrolled means in said member for movthe split-boltinto unlocking position.

2. ln a locking device tor an automobile steering wheel, a split collaradapted to surround the steering column adjacent the steering wheel,clamping bolts carried in the collar and having` protruding heads, aspokeengaging member pivotally attached to the collar adapted when swunginto upright position to engage. a spoke of the steering wheel andhaving recesses that receive and cover the protruding heads of theclamping bolts the joint between the collar and the spoke-engagingmember having longitudinal openings that aline when the latter is inupright position, a spring pressed split-bolt mounted `for endwisemovement in said openings and automatically operative to lock the partswhen the spoke-engaging member is swung into itsupright position, andhey-controlled means in said member for moving the split-bolt intounloeking posit-ion.

ln a locking device 'for an automob-ile steering wheel, a split collaradapted to sur round the steering column adjacent the steering wheel,clamping means 'carried inthe collar and accessible from one sidethereof, a spol-:e-engaging member pivot-ally tothe collar and adaptedin upright posi;- tion both to engage a spoke of the steering wheel andto cover1 the clamping means, locking means extending longitudinally ofthe joint `between the collar and spoke-enf gaging member andautomatically operative to loci:V the latter when swung intouprightposition, and key-controlled means carried unlockin the spoke-engagingmember for ing the locking means.

Il. In a loclr'ng device for an automobile steering wheel, a splitcollar adapted to surround the steering column acent the steervn ing`wheel and having an outwardly projecting lug, clamping means for thecollar accessible from the side thereof bearing the lug, a Ylorlredmember pivotally attached to the lug and adapted in upright positionboth to engage a spoke of the steering wheel and to cover the clampingmeans, ylocking means automatically'operative to lock the forked member'when swung into upright position, and key-controlled means :tor'unlocking said locking means.

5. ln a locking `device for'an automobile steering wheel, a split collarclamped to the steering column, a forked member pivotally jointed to thecollar and adapted when swung into upright position to engage a spoke otthe steering wheel, a spring pressed split bolt extending longitudinallyof the joint between the collar and the 'forked member and automaticallyoperative to lock` the latter in upright position, and key-'controlledmeans for unlocking the same.

nnNJaMiN Lmnowirz. Jannev naman.

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